Toyah Cordingley was found dead at Wangetti Beach in Cairns.Source:Supplied

DISTURBING clues have emerged around the alleged murder of a 24-year-old woman found dead on a secluded north Queensland beach.

Toyah Cordingley went out to walk her dog on Sunday afternoon before her body was found on Wangetti Beach, 42 kilometres north of Cairns, early on Monday.

Police sources told the Courier Mail she had “visible” and “violent” injuries. Locals said the beach was frequented by a group of “oddbods” and vagrants, with recent reports of nudity and sexually deviant behaviour in the sand dunes.

Detective Inspector of the Far North District Sonia Smith said police were treating the Cairns woman’s death as a homicide investigation.

SES crews were last night carrying out forensic searches on the beach and in dense bushland, which will remain a crime scene.

Toyah Cordingley was found dead at Wangetti Beach on Monday.Source:Supplied

Police confirmed Ms Cordingley’s dog was found on the beach and said her death could have been a sexually related murder.

“If we’re dealing with a potentially sexually related murder, which commonsensically we may be, we may well be dealing with a male,” Detective Senior Sergeant Ed Kinbacher said.

“It may well be the case this young woman has run into a stranger or potentially a person known to her and circumstances have unfolded that have led to her death.

“So it’s critical that anyone who was there come forward and let us know because I think that, at the end of the day, will provide us with the leads we potentially need to solve this matter.”

Her “larger than average dog”, identified as a German shepherd cross, great dane, mastiff, was found tied up at the scene, the Daily Mail reports.

Ms Cordingley was found dead at Wangetti Beach on Monday, October 22, 2018. The Cairns girl was known for her work with Paws and Claws and was with her dog at the beach shortly before she died. Police are investigating her murder.Source:Supplied

The breeds are known to be aggressive towards strangers, with German shepherds particularly known for “resource guarding”, meaning they can become aggressive when someone touches their food or their owner.

It’s understood police will examine the dog in an attempt to find the killer.

The large dog may have been tied up before a threat was presented, or it did not see the killer as a threat.

Police said they had no leads or suspects and hope the scientific examination of the body would be completed by yesterday afternoon. Police divers were called in from Brisbane for assistance and are looking for personal items.

“We are still establishing her movements and that’s part of why we need to get information from the community today — to establish what exactly led up to Toyah’s death and her movements up until her death,” said Det Insp Smith.

Addressing media yesterday afternoon, Ms Smith said 23 people have come forward so far to provide police with information in regards to the investigation — but are still appealing for more people including friends, family and colleagues who they have not yet come forward.

“We have an open investigation, we have ruled nothing in and nothing out,” she said.

Police believe Ms Cordingley may have attended Rusty’s Markets on Grafton Street on the day of her alleged murder and want to speak with members of the community who were at Rusty Markets, who may have talked to her, sold goods to her and interacted with her between 12pm and 1pm.

Police also want to talk to anyone with a dashcam who travelled between Smithfield and Port Douglas on the Captain Cook highway between noon and 7pm on Sunday — as well as those who frequent the beach and its two carparks (north and south).

The 24-year-old was a dog lover, known for her work with local animal organisation Paws and Claws.Source:Supplied

The 24-year-old animal lover had driven to the beach about 2.30pm on Sunday to walk her dog and her worried family reported her missing about 11pm when she still hadn’t returned — her body was found on Monday.

In a Facebook post in June, Ms Cordingley shared a tweet about the dangers women face from violent men. It read: “I can only imagine the rage and fear women feel to see women die doing everyday mundane things like walking home. Stop blaming women. Make men the issue”.

Det Insp Smith said detectives have spoken to Ms Cordingley’s family regularly, providing them with ongoing support and “as you can understand it has been a very traumatic time for the family.”

Det Sr Sgt Kinbacher said: “This is not a highly frequented area. People notice each other at Wangetti Beach.”

“No young woman should go to the beach to walk their dog and have this happen to them.

“It’s a quiet beach. I’m not aware of any historical problems with this area.”

Ms Cordingley shared this tweet on her Facebook page.Source:Facebook

Police are treating the death as a homicide.Source:Supplied

The detective said blonde-haired Ms Cordingley, whose large dog was found uninjured on Monday, would have been easily noticeable on what was traditionally a quiet stretch of sand.

“No young woman should go to a beach to walk the dog and this unfold for them,” he said.

“There may have been males in the area that have made women uncomfortable, been behaving unusually, paying too much attention.

“Those sort of people, we want to hear about them.”

Port Douglas Councillor Michael Kerr who employed Ms Cordingley at his animal shelter Paws and Claws for more than a year described her as “the most beautiful, loving soul”.

Mr Kerr told Cairns Post he was devastated to hear news of her death. “I knew her and her housemate when she was working for me,” he said.

“I was querying the details (of her disappearance) on Facebook before sharing (the post).

“She was an absolutely loyal employee of Paws and Claws. She was one of the most beautiful souls. It’s tragic.

“She adored animals, she was on a different level with animals, than humans. She had something special with animals. Even the troubled dogs would calm down in her presence.”

Police are appealing for dashcam footage as they hunt the killer.

Detectives are appealing for footage from drivers with a dashcam who were travelling along the Captain Cook Highway between Smithfield and Port Douglas between midday and 7pm on Sunday.

Anyone with information to report should call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

HEARTBREAKING LETTER

Ms Cordingley’s best friend Megan Amour has written a touching tribute, published in full below.

Dear Toyah,

It was not that long ago we were going through my photos of us and you asked me to put them on your USB when you came over next.

We didn’t get the chance and I just feel that everyone deserves to see the most amazing memories we created in what I would call not long enough 5 minute film.

I don’t know what people have been expecting me to say in conjunction of what happened today but I don’t want to talk to everyone, I want to talk to you.

I can’t believe this, I refuse to believe this.

Would you believe that I have over 30+ messages in my inbox all unread, not because I’m popular but because you have touched so many souls including mine and we are all in that much pain that making sure those who were closest to you are OK.

I wish you were here to talk to them and tell them you are OK.

I wanted to be like you, I wanted to be the gypsy soul you were. I wanted to be flawless and not just the beauty you had on the outside but the beauty you had on the inside.

You were different to everyone, you followed what you believed in, you had nobody hating you. You lived life to the fullest and you respected everyone else’s decisions. You had such a big heart and a beautiful loving family you adored.

It wasn’t that long ago, I pulled up with a bouquet of balloons and a box full of goodies asking you to stand by my side while I marry the man I love and you were so willingly accepted and it took you less than a minute to start planning everything with me.

I started to feel like I can’t get married anymore, because you won’t be there, you won’t be there standing with me and witnessing this milestone of my life.

You will be there somehow, I will make sure of it, you love memory will be shared everyday for as long as I live, I will be sharing the funny, loving, crazy memories about aunty TOYTOY to Rose when she’s older and tell her that she would have loved you the way I did.

I’m betting you’re going to be the most prettiest angel up there with the most prettiest wings, and over a thousand of puppy angels surrounding you. Look over us, and shine bright my honey, there will not be a day where I don’t think of you because believe me every single day is going to hurt, I love you.